Machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes



Jan. 11, 1938. A. EPPLER ET AL MACHINE FOR PRESS'ING THE BOTTOMS.OF SHOES Filed Sept. 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/ VENTURE.

, ,Qwfi/ Jan. 11, 1938. A. EPPLER El AL 7 2,104,739

MACHINE FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed Sept. 10, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Jam-11, 1938. EPPLER ET AL 7 2,104,739

MACHINE FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed Sept. 10, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet s port has been thus positioned by the shoe.

Patented Jan. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES ZJdiJSt PATENT creme MACHINE FOR PRESSIN G THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Application September 10, 1936, Serial No. 100,158

20 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, and more particularly to means for supporting the shoe in the pressure-applying operation, the term shoe being generally used herein with reference to a shoe mounted on a last. The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a machine for leveling the bottoms of shoes progressively, but it is to be understood that it is not thus limited in its applicability.

Machines of the type herein illustrated are provided with a leveling tool or roll for pressing the bottoms of shoes and with means for supporting each shoe at the heel end-and at the forepart in the pressing operation. In operating upon shoes mounted upon jointed lasts, that is, lasts having relatively movable forepart and heel-end portions, it has been found sometimes that the mechanism for joining the two parts of the last has become worn, or is too weak to support the last in a straightened condition against the pressure of the leveling roll. As a result the last either becomes distorted or breaks, thus causing damage to the shoe being operated upon.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for supporting the shoe in such manner as to eliminate any danger of such damage to the shoe in the pressing operation. For the purpose in view, there is provided an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the iorepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on the support, and means for forcing the additional support more firmly against the shoe after the additional sup- In the machine herein shown, the shoe is supported by a jack that is movable into and out of operative relation to the leveling roll to permit the jacking and unjacking of the shoes. Preferably and as shown, the additional support is arranged to engage each shoe at the top of the instep portion of the last and to be positioned by the shoe in the jacking operation, and, conveniently, the means or mechanism for forcing the additional support more firmly against the shoe is operative in response to the movement of the jack into operative relation to the leveling roll. As herein shown, this mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel rotatable in one direction by the additional support as it is positioned by the shoe, an arm swingable in the opposite direction by the movement of the jack into operative relation to the leveling roll, and a spring-pressed pawl for connecting the arm and the ratchet wheel to cause the ratchet wheel to be rotated in the direction of the swinging movement of the arm. After the additional support has been thus forced against the shoe by the swinging of the arm the pawl andratchet wheel act to lock the additional support against movement out of shoe-supporting position. Undersome conditions of work it may be necessary to vary the pressure of the additional support on the shoe to insure that the last will be held by the additional support in a substantially straightened condition in the pressing operation. For this purpose there is provided, in accordance withanother feature of the invention, a shield for holding the above-mentioned pawl, against the action of its spring, initially out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. 'As illus trated, this shield is adjustable to vary the time in the movement of the jack into operative relation to the roll when the pawl is released, thus varying the amount of rotation imparted to the ratchet wheel by the swinging of the above-mentioned arm to vary the pressure of the additional support on the shoe.

The novel features ofthe invention, including various details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

7 Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the machine in which the invention is embodied, parts being broken away to illustrate the construction more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a portion ofthe mechanism for forcing the supporting means more firmly against the shoe; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV--IV of Fig. 3.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a. leveling machine of a well-known type characteristic features of which are illustrated and described in various prior United States Letters Patent including Letters Patent No. 1,667,761, granted on May 1, 1928, upon an application of E. E. Winkley and H. A. Davenport. chines include in their organization a shoe support or jack comprising a heel post I0 and a toe post 52 carryingmeans whereby a shoe and last are supported for the leveling operation performed by a roll 54 that applies downward pressure on the shoe sole and acts progressively along the shoe bottom as the jack is swung by poweroperated means in directions lengthwise .of the shoe. The heel post ill carries a spindle l6 which enters the spindle hole in the heel end of the Such ma last, the spindle being mounted on a block [8 pivoted at 28 on an upward extension of the heel post to swing in directions lengthwise of the shoe. The spindle I8 extends through an enlarged opening in a plate 22 also carried by the block I8 which plate is free to tip about an axis extending laterally of the shoe to adjust itself to the top face of the heel end of the last.

(not shown) whereby the block and spindle may be swung to press the toe end of the shoe firmly down upon toe-supporting means on the toe post I2 as more fully disclosed in United States Letters Patent. No. 1,719,158, granted on July 2, 1929, upon an application of E. E. Winkley and H. A. Davenport. The toe-supporting means is: substantially the same as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,962,141, granted June 12, 1934, upon an application of Andrew Eppler and comprises a member 28 adjustable on arouate guideways on the toe post I2 and having mounted thereon a block 28 adjustable upwardly and downwardly by means of awedge 38. Supported on the block 28 is a toe-supporting device or toe rest comprising a rubber pad 32 hollowed out to receive the toe end of the shoe and a holder 34 on which the pad is mounted. It will be understood that the holder 34 is so mounted on the block 28 as to permit it to adjust itself to each shoe about an axis extending laterally of the shoe and located substantially at the shoeengaging face of the pad 32.

For purposes of this invention there is provided additional means for supporting the shoe in the pressure-applying operation. This means comprises a support 36 for engaging the last or shoe between its heel end and forepart and comprising a rubber pad 38 hollowed out to receive the wedge-shaped upper end'of the instep portion of the last or shoe and a holder 48 on which the pad is mounted. The holder 49 is mounted on a slide 42 for swinging movement about an axis extending laterally of the shoe to permit the pad 38 to adjust itself to each shoe. The slide 42 is mounted for movements in directions heightwise of the shoe in a boss 44 on the block 28 and fastened to the slide by a pin 46 within a central recess in the slide is a rod 48 which extends downwardly through the boss '44 and through an enlarged opening in a plate 59 secured to the lower end face of the boss 44 by screws 52 (Figs. 1 and 2). Surrounding the rod 48 between the plate 59 and a shoulder 54 on the slide 42 is a spring 56 which tends to impart upward movement to the slide and the rod 48. Upward movement of the slide 42 and rod 48 is limited by the engagement of a heavy compression spring 58 with a shoulder 69 on, the plate 59, this spring surrounding the lower end por tion of the rod 48 and being supported by a nut and locknut 62 threaded on the end portion of the rod. Preferably the nut and locknut 82 are so adjusted that the rod 48 and slide 42 are upheld by the spring 58 with the support 38 in position to be engaged by a last and shoe and tobe depressed against the resistance of the spring 58 as the last and shoe are forced firmly against the toe pad 32 in response to tipping of the spindle I8 toward the toe rest in the jacking of the shoe.

In the illustrated machine the jack is fulcrumed upon a shaft 84 (Figs. 1 and 2) supported in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine and is arranged to be swung by the operator from jacking position rearwardly into position to be connected to an arm 86 also fulcrumed on the The block I8 is connected by a link 24 to mechanism' shaft 84 by a spring-operated pin 88 (Fig. 1) carried by the arm 58 and arranged to engage the jack in a recess formed in the jack. The arm 68 is connected to power-operated mechanism (not shown) which, upon depression of a treadle with which the machine is provided, is arranged to swing the arm and the jack about the axis of Y the shaft 64 in directions lengthwise of the shoe to carry the last and shoe rearwardly and forwardly under the leveling roll I4 after which, at the end of the pressure-applying operation, the pin 68 is moved out of engagement with the jack to permit the jack to move forwardly toward the operator relatively to the arm 88 into position to permit the last and shoe to be removed from the jack and another last and shoe mounted thereon. In the illustrated construction there is provided means which will now be described for forcing the support 38 more firmly against the last or shoe after the support has been moved to a position determined by the shoe by the pressure of the shoe thereon in the jacking operation. Formed on the slide 42 are rack teeth 79 (Fig. 1) arranged to 'be engaged by the teeth of a pinion I2 formed on the end of a shaft M which is rotatably mounted in a bushing I8 (Fig. 3) in a laterally extending projection '18 on the block 28. Keyed to the opposite end portion of the shaft Z4 is a wheel 89 which is surrounded by a sleeve 82'rctatable about the axis of the shaft It upon the enlarged end portion of the projection I8, the sleeve 82 being held in adjusted position by a collar screw 84 extending through a slot 88 in the sleeve and being threaded into projection 18 on the block 28. Fulcrumed upon the sleeve 82 is an arm 88 which is held against movement lengthwise of the sleeve by a shoulder 98 on the sleeve 82 and a collar 92 mounted on the end of the shaft I4 and engaging the, end of the sleeve 82, a screw 94 carried by the collar 92 and engaging a peripheral groove in the shaft '54 being provided for holding the collar 82 against movement lengthwise of shaft E4. The wheel 88 has formed thereon ratchet teeth 98 (Figs. 3 and 4) and slidably mounted in the arm 88 opposite the ratchet teeth is a pawl or detent 98 which is urged by a spring I89 in a direction to engage one of the ratchet teeth when permitted to do so by the sleeve 82 which only partially surrounds the ratchet teeth 98 and acts when the parts are in their initial positions as a shield to hold the pawl 98 out of engagement with the teeth 99. The pawl 98 is held against turning movement in the arm 88 by a pin and slot arrangement I92. A spring I04 (Figs. 1 and 2) extending between a pin I98 projecting from a depending boss 98 on the projection I8 and a pin I I8 carried by the arm 88 tends to swing the arm 88 in a direction to hold a roll II2 carried by the arm in engagement with a plate II4 fast to the arm 88. When the jack is in shoe and last receiving position the pawl 98 is held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 98 by the sleeve 82 so that the shai t 1'4 and the wheel 88 are free to turn as the support 36 is moved downwardly to a position deter-- mined by the shoe by the pressure of the shoe thereon in the jacking operation. As the jack with one of the ratchet teeth 96. Thereafter, during continued relative swinging movement of the arm 88 and the sleeve 82, the shaft 14 and wheel 86 are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which they were rotated by the support 36 as it was positioned by the shoe to cause upward movement to be imparted to the slide 42, through the engagement of the pinion 12 with the rack teeth ill on the slide to force the support 36 more firmly against the shoe. It will be understood that by loosening the collar screw 84 the sleeve 82 may be adjusted relatively to the pawl 98 to vary the time in the rearward swinging movement of the jack when the pawl 98 is released to the action of its spring I and there by to vary the extent of upward movement imparted to the slide 42 to force the support 38 against the shoe. The support 36 is positively locked against downward movement by the engagement of the pawl 98 with one of the ratchet teeth 96, thus preventing the last from being bent or broken as heavy pressure is applied to I the bottom of the shoe by the leveling roll M in the pressure-applying operation.

At theend of the pressure-applying operation the spring operated pin 68 is moved out of engagement with the jack to permit it to fall, by its own weight, forwardly toward the operator into work-receiving position. As the jack thus moves relatively to the arm 66, the arm 88 is moved relatively to the sleeve 82 in a direction to cause the tapered edge portion H6 of the sleeve 82 to cam the pawl 98 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 96 to unlock the support 36, the spring 55 then acting to return the parts to their initial positions.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, and means for forcing said additional support more firmly against the shoe after it has been thus positioned by the shoe.

2. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a device arranged to lock said additional support against further movement in the same direction after it has been thus positioned by the shoe, and means for operating said device to force the additional support more firmly against the shoe.

3. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, mechanism movable by said additional support as it is thus positioned by the shoe, and a device arranged to act through said mechanism to force the additional support more firmly against the shoe and thereafter to hold it in shoe-supporting position.

4; In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a ratchet wheel rotatable by said additional support as it is thus positioned by the shoe, a pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel, and means for operating said pawl to force the additional support more firmly against the shoe.

5. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart, said additional support being arranged yieldingly to engage the shoeand being movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe thereon, and positive means for forcing said additional support more firmly against the shoe after it has been thus positioned by the shoe.

6. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe. at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart, said additional support being movable lengthwise to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe thereon, spring means against the resistance of which said additional support is thus movable, and means independent of said spring means for forcing said additional support against the shoe after it has been thus positioned by the shoe.

7. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combina tion with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the,

heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a member movable with said additional support, said member having rack teeth formed thereon, a pinion engaging said rack teeth, and mechanism for rotating said pinion in a direction to force said additional support more firmly against the shoe and thereafter to hold it in shoe-supporting position.

8. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, gearing rotatable by such movement of the additional support, and a device arranged to act through said gearing to force the additional support more firmly against the shoe and to hold it in shoe-supporting position.

9. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe,

of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, gearing rotatable by such movement of the additional support, a ratchet member movable by said gearing, a pawl for engaging said ratchet member, and means for operating said pawl to force said additional sup port more firmly against the shoe.

10. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combina tion with means for pressing the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting the shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, and means for imparting to said additional support a movement of predetermined extent to force it more firmly against the shoe after it has been thus positioned by the shoe.

11. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe, and means for supporting each shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, of additional supporting means for the shoe comprising a member arranged yieldingly to engage the shoe at the top of the instep portion of the last, said member being movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe thereon, and means for thereafter increasing the pressure of said member against the shoe and for holding it in shoe-supporting position.

12. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe, of a jack for supporting each shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, said jack being arranged to be thrown out of operative position to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, and mechanism operative in response to movement of the jack into operative position for forcing said additional support more firmly against the shoe.

13. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, a jack for supporting each shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, and a pivoted arm for swinging said jack in directions lengthwise of the shoe to cause said roll to apply pressure progressively along the bottom of the shoe, said jack being arranged to be moved into and out of operative relation to said arm to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, of an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support in the jacking operation, and mechanism operative in response to movement of said jack into operative relation to said arm for forcing said additional support more firmly against the shoe and for holding it in shoesupporting position.

14. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe, of a jack for supporting each shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, said jack being arranged to be thrown out of operative position to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support in the jacking operation, and mechanism operative in response to movement of said jack into operative position for forcing said additional support more firmly against the shoe and for looking it against movement out of shoe-supporting position, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to unlock said additional support in response to movement of said jack out of operative position.

15. In a leveling .machine, the combination with a leveling roll, a jack for supporting a shoe at the heel end and at the forepart, and poweroperated means for effecting relative movement of said jack and roll in directions lengthwise of the shoe, said jack being arranged to be moved into and out of operative relation to said poweroperated means to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, of an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart, said additional support being mounted on said jack and being movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a device arranged to lock said additional support against further movement in the same direction after it has been thus positioned by the shoe, and means for operating said device by the movement of the jack into operative relation to said power-operated means to force said additional support more firmly against the shoe.

1 6. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, of a jack for supporting each shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, said jack being movable into and out of operative relation to said pressing means to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a po-- sition determined by the shoe by the pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a ratchet wheel rotatable in one direction by such movement of the additional support, an arm swingable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said ratchet wheel in response to the movement of said jack into operative relation to said pressing means, and a springpressed pawl for connecting said arm and ratchet wheel substantially at the beginning of the swinging movement of said arm to cause the ratchet wheel to be rotated in a direction to force said aditional support more firmly against the shoe.

17. In a shoe-pressing machine, the combination with means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, of a jack for supporting each shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, said jack being movable into and out of operative relation to said pressing means to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a ratchet wheel rotatable in one direction by such movement of the additional support, an arm swingable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said ratchet wheel by the movement of said jack into operative relation to said pressing means, a spring-pressed pawl for connecting said arm and the ratchet wheel to cause said ratchet wheel to be rotated in a direction to force said additional support more firmly against the shoe, and an adjustable shield for holding the pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and for releasing the pawl to the action of its spring to connect the arm and said ratchet wheel at a predetermined time in the swinging movement of said arm.

18. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, the combination with a leveling tool, a jack for supporting a shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, and power-operated means for relatively moving said jack and tool in directions lengthwise of the shoe, said jack being arranged to be moved into and out of position to be connected to said power-operated means to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, of an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a ratchet wheel rotatable in one direction by said additional support as it is thus positioned by the shoe, an arm swingable in the opposite direction in response to the movement of said jack into position to be connected to said power-operated means, and means for connecting said arm and the ratchet wheel substantially at the beginning of such movement of the jack to cause the ratchet wheel to be rotated in a direction to force the additiona1 support more firmly against the shoe.

19. In a leveling machine, the combination With a leveling roll, a jack for supporting a shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, and power-operated means for relatively moving said jack and roll in directions lengthwise of the shoe, said jack being mounted for movement into and out of position to be connected to said power-operated means to permit the jacking and unjacking'of each shoe, of an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by the pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a ratchet wheel rotatable in one direction by said additional support as it is thus positioned by the shoe, and mechanism for rotating said ratchet wheel in the opposite direction to force said additional support more firmly against the shoe, said means comprising a spring-pressed pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel, an arm for operating said pawl by the movement of the jack into position to be connected to said power-operated means, and an adjustable shield for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel'and for releasing the pawl to the action of its spring substantially at the beginning of such movement of the jack.

20. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, a jack for supporting a shoe at the heel end and at the forepart in the pressing operation, and power-operated means for relatively moving said jack and roll in directions length-wise of the shoe, said jack being arranged to be moved into and out of position to be connected to said power-operated means to permit the jacking and unjacking of each shoe, of an additional support for the shoe between the heel end and the forepart movable to a position determined by the shoe by the pressure of the shoe on said additional support, a ratchet wheel rotatable in one direction by said additional support as it is thus positioned by the shoe, an

arm swingable in the opposite direction in response to the movement of said jack into position to be connected to said power-operated means, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said arm for engaging said ratchet wheel to cause it to be rotated in a direction to force said additional support more firmly against the shoe, and an adjustable shield for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and for releasing the pawl to the action of its spring at a predetermined time in the swinging movement of said arm.

ELLA P. EPPLER, Executrzzr of the Will of Andrew Eppler, Deceased.

JAMES P. FREDERICKSEN. 

